Building block



W. L. MAXSON BUILDING BLOCK May 28, 1940.

2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed Feb. 25. 1937 INVENTOR 4414- BY w I lean ATTORNEYS y 8,1940. w L.MAXSQN 2,202 592 BUILDING BLOCK Filed Feb. 25, 19:57, 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENT OR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicr.

6 Claims.

This invention relates to toys, more particularly to a building block ordesign unit, and especially to cubes or blocks of generally rectangular.shape or other stereometrical forms, adapted for arrangement in a greatvariety of for example sheet metal, card-board, non-inflammableCelluloid, etc., and also adapted to be formed as a solid and thentinted or otherwise" decorated, in either case exhibiting, according tothe invention, certain characteristic elements of surface designemphasized by coloration accord ing to a predetermined plan of surfacedivision.

Another object of the invention is to provide such structural elementsor components adapted tobe united to form an integral block, and sodesigned as to exhibit, on the facets of the com pleted block, anoptimum number of various combinative geometric or other figurations,utilizing a minimum number of such members or components, so that withsay, two such structural components, each having an all-overcharacteristic color, tint or design, the six facets formed by unitingthe contiguous margins of these components wil exhibit each acolor-characteristic, or a figuration characteristic, that distinguishesthat facet from other facets of said cube, and de-- sirably from all ofthe other facets, although this is not essential to certain features ofthe invention.

The number of combinations'and permutations which it is possible to formout of a set of cubes comprising only sixteen cubes with different facet1 designs, is ofa high order, following the formula and with the blocks,constituting one of the ordinary commercial sets, in which such blocksare sold, in which sets it is customary to in-- clude nine, sixteen,twelve, twenty-five, thirtyvsix or even one hundred blocks, thepossibility of sufiiciently sturdy structure to withstand the wear andtear of daily use in a nursery or kindergarten for a long period.

Another object of the invention is to pro' vide a block of inexpensivestructure, so that the initial cost and sales price may be kept withinreasonable limits, thus encouraging purchases of sufficiently extensivesets to permit the formation of enough designs simultaneously to keep achild or several children interested, and also to facilitate the keepingin assembled form of any group of such blocks which may exhibit specialmerit and warrant extended examination.

Another object is to provide an improved method of making and assemblingthe components of blocks for the above purpose by the steps of mouldingor cutting from suitable material blanks of complemental shape adaptedto constitute elements of the block and to form when assembled acomplete stereometrical unit whether of cubical or other shape, the saidblanks embodying the entire stereometrical area of the cube, or othersolid shape and the permanence of the block being assured by the step ofuniting the contiguous margins of the complemental elements physically,as by an adhesive, or by solder, if they are of metal, or by Welding orotherwise mechanically forming the desired union.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of theparticular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the inventionprogresses, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out intheappended claims.

In describing the invention in detail and the particular physicalembodiment selected to illustrate the invention, reference will be hadto the accompanying drawings and the several views therein, in whichlike characters vof reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 and Fig. '2 are respectively views in perspective of a toybuilding block in the form of a cube, in the construction of which theinvention has been embodied, this unit having six facets of equal areaand different design, of which three facets are shown in Fig. 1, and theother three adjoining facets are shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are respectively developed views of two complementalsurface portions which together comprise the entire aggregatestereometric area of the six facets of the cube illustrated in Figs. 1and 2. I

Fig. 5 is a plan view of an illustrative combination of sixteen of theunits, identical with each other, in configuration and sm'face design,

* side by side on the facet.

and assembled in contiguous relation with each other to form a design inwhich five out of the six characteristic facet designs appear one ormore times in the fanciful representation of a horse, on a lightbackground.

Figs. 6 to 14 inclusive are detail views in ele vation from differentviewpoints showing respectively the two component elements of such ablock as that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figs. 15 and 16 are Views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, illustrating inperspective a cubical unit of modified design.

The reference character is used generally throughout the drawings,except in Figs. 15 and 16, to designate each complete cubical block orunit, and the numerals l to 6 inclusive designate each a different facetof the cube, each facet ex hibiting its own characteristic design, bywhich term as herein employed, it is intended to include an all-overcoloring or tint, of any surface area, as well as any distinctivefiguration of a lineal or other character.

For example, each facet designated l is characterized distinctively byan all-over light color or tint, and each facet 2 has an all-over darkercolor or contrasting tint, while each facet 3 exhibits a characteristichalf-and-half arrangement of the same light and darker, or contrasting,tints in rectangular, oblong fields 3 and 3 Each of the facets 4exhibits as its characteristic a rhomboidal design eifect 4 in thedarker tint, extending diagonally across the facet and including two ofthe corners, while the other two corners, 4 and 4, disposed at oppositeends of an imaginary crossdiagonal line, are in the lighter tint. Eachfacet 5 exhibits one triangular corner area 5 in the darker tint whilethe preponderant remainder of the area 5' of the facet is in the lightertint. The facet 6 exhibits a characteristic which is the reciprocal ofthe above described characteristic of the facet 5, viz., the facet 6 hasone light triangular corner area 6 in the light tint, while theremainder 6 of the facet 6 is of the darker tint, this being thepreponderant feature of the characteristic of this facet.

In the horse design of Fig. 5, the all-over light tinted facets l of theunits are numerous, there being four of these, which furnish the greaterpart of the background of this design; one all-over darker tinted facet2 furnishes the bulk of the desired body effect, in conjunction with theadjacent darker halves 3 of two of the facets 3, while the lighterhalves 3 of the two last-mentioned facets merge with the lightbackground facets I.

Similarly, the light background is augmented by thedominant light parts5 of facets 5 above and below the body, but in the six facets 4 whichare used respectively to represent the head, neck, tail and legs, thedarker tint of the rhomboids l dominates the lighter tint, 4 although itwill be observed that the light tint can still be arranged to merge withthe general light background at all contiguous regions.

This capability is provided for in considerable measure by that featureof the invention which resides in a disposal of the contrasting dark andlight areas such that each color area extends either along the entireedge of a facet or along one-half or a regular predetermined moiety ofan edge, there being no deviation from this rule in the instanceselected for illustration, as is shown most clearly in Fig. 5, forexample, along the top margin of the assembly, Where each of the facets4 is of the rhomboidal variety, presenting a half-light and half-darkupper edge, while the entire edge of facet .i is of the light tint.

This feature not only exercises a certain desirable infiuence upon thecontinuity, and to an extent the regularity, of the design sought to beproduced, but it also makes possible the fabrication of the cubicalblock or unit by the use of only two complemental components, as alreadydescribed, for each cube, and which components are formed with irregularmeeting edges, defined by the joint-line 8 to which reference hasalready been made, when as in the instance selected for illustration,showing a now-preferred type of structure, the cube is made in twoelementsor sections, designated generally A and A2, the sections havingbeen moulded or otherwise formed of a synthetic resin, thermoplastic,thermosetting or analogous material, such as cellulose acetate,non-inflammable Celluloid, pyroxylin, etc.

It is not intended, however, to exclude the use of more than twocomponents in the application of a selected set of designs to the facetsof a unit, whether the stereometric solid be of cubical or otherpolygonal, spheroidal or other contour. For example, in Figs. 15 and 16,there is shown a cube, having three color characteristics, viz., red,white and blue, the areas of each tint being so designated, and it istobe observed that the areas of each tint are all related to each other,and adjoin either along an entire edge or surface line or along a moietyof predetermined extent so that this modification falls within the rulepreviously stated.

Reverting now to the figures illustrated the first described cubicalunit, the section or element A is shown in Fig. 7, and the section orelement A2 is shown in Fig. 6, the points of view in the two figuresbeing such that if the observer should grasp the section of Fig. 6 withhis left hand, and the section of Fig. 7 with his right hand, he couldfit the sections together by simply turning them bodily so that thehollow sides presented in the figures are in opposition to each other,and then approaching them. toeach other.

As is readily apparent from inspection of the other figures on thissheet, below Figs. 6 and 7,

the figures numbers 8 to 14 inclusive are arranged in two rowsvertically, with different facets of the darker tinted element at theright, and different facets of the lighter tinted element shown in theleft-hand column. It will be observed further that an arrow l I extendsfrom Fig. 13 upward and leftward toward Fig. 10, and this is intended toindicate that by moving the element of Fig. 13 in the direction pointedout by the arrow, the figuration 6 of Fig. 13 will assume its properposition in the facet structure of Fig. 10, which facet is thatdesignated 6 in Fig. 2: so also, the arrow 12 leading from Fig. 14toward Fig. 12 indicates that by a similar movement'the rhomboidalelement 4 of Fig. 14' may be fitted in between the corners 4b and 4 ofFig 2. thus completing the figuration of facet i.

The sections, as illustrated, are intended to form a cube having asubstantial central cavity,

and accordingly the walls are of sensible thickness, so that themutually contiguous edges 16 and H (see Figs. 6 and 7) are preferablybevelled so as to provide for a snug interfit of sensible breadth alongthe joint line 3 (see Figs. 1 and 2) each edge affording desirablesupport to the other when the sections are assembled and suitablyunited. Such union may be readily effected by the use of a conventionaladhesive or by a solvent, when, as in the case of the present material,use is made of a thermosetting or a thermoplastic resinous material; andif metal be used, the desired mechanical or metallic union can beeffected by any of the known or suitable means, as forexample bycrimping, soldering, brazing, welding, etc.

- The elements A and A2 are merged in the general structure of the cubeshown in Figs. 1 and 2, designated as a whole C, and so are notletteredseparately. Their joining means is designated by the line 8, appearingat different regions as a heavy line for the sake of convenience in itsidentification. The section A is formed of a material which has beencolored or tinted a bright red shade in the making, while the section A2isof an ivory, or lighter tint, thus afford- 1 ing a pleasing contrastat all regions where the parts of the elements are in juxtaposition, andby this contrast the distinctive figuration or tint characteristic ofeach facet is enhanced.

As the parts of the respective elements are clearly designated by thesame letters of reference wherever they appear throughout the drawings,it is unnecessary to elaborate their description as already applied tosome of the figures. Should it be desired to have a solid cube insteadof one with a. large cavity, the walls will be made correspondingly ofsuitable contour and thickness in the two sections, as will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art.

If desired, the intended effect can be secured cheaply by using a solidwooden block, or a hollow pasteboard cube, and then painting orotherwise tinting its facets in either of the designs herein disclosedor any other design embodying the invention; or tinted sheets of paperor other material shaped like the blanks B and B2 shown in Figs. 3 and4, can be cut or stamped out and then secured adhesively over the facetsof a block.

As all the edge lines between adjoining face portions (see broken lines9 in Figs. 3 and may be straight lines, a very neat finish can bereadily secured by the relatively unskilled labor of operativesaccustomed to work in the box-covering art, and similarly if metal beused, the joints and bends can be formed along straight lines.

While there is opportunity for Wide variety in the geometrical andstereometrical effects procurable by employment of the invention hereindisclosed, the facet design herein illustratively shown has manydesirable features, which will now be described:

It has been ascertained by extensive research that the componentelements of a complete set of facet figurations can be made desirably ofthe two complemental color areas B and B2 as shown respectively in Fig.3 and Fig. 4, and when these are analyzed, certain distinctive featuresemerge at once which differentiate these from known figurations embodiedin units of a similar nature, and these features may be summarized asfollows:

(a) One of the components, as B2 (see Fig. 4), has its entiresuperficies of the lighter tint; the other component, B (see Fig. 3),has its entire superficies of the darker or contrasting tint.Accordingly, whether the facet elements be embodied in sheet materialand then bent upon the lines 9 to a generally cubical form, andassembled with their free edges in machine relation, or whether eachcomponent be formed as an entity of the complemental forms shown inFigs. 6 and 7, the result will be the same, so far as the relativedisposal of the facet figurations is concerned.

(1 Each of the design components illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is furthercharacterized by having a body, panel or portion, made up of onecomplete square, as 2 in Fig. 3, and l in Fig. 4, ready to serve as afacet in the completed article. Each has also an oblong, or half square,3 or 3 and each includes also one of the larger facet areas, as 5 or 6',lacking only one of the corner triangular areas, 5 or 6 alreadydescribed. The dark corner 5 thus missing from the facet 5 in Fig. 4 issupplied at 5 in Fig. 3, while the light corner li missing from the darktinted facet 6 inFig. 3, is supplied at 6 in Fig. 4. The dark rhomboidalfacet portion 4 in Fig. 3 finds its two complemental light triangularcorner portions at 4 and 4 in Fig. 4, when thecube is completed byassembly 'of the elements.

(0) The triangular corner areas are so disposed that those of each ofthe two tints are integral with, and in the completedcube, are adjacentto, a full central face of the same tint, there being an extension, oneach edge, of the central facet of each tint. This provides for thepresence of a series of attractively contrasting areas of differentcontours in all of the resultant designs.

While it has been proposed, in earlier patents, to form a cube of sheetmaterial in two pressedup sections united mechanically, as by adhesiveor solder, etc., I believe it to be novel to provide such sections withmargins of highly irregular contour, but still adapted to match eachother in the completed cube, and to yield as a product, an article ofmanufacture in the form of a unit with six facets, each exhibiting acharacteristic design, figuration or tint which is different from thatof each, or at least of several of the other facets.

This novel sectional, and preferably hollow, block, thus may desirablyconsist of only two parts, colored in contrasting tints relatively toeach other, and the respective configurations of the parts being suchthat each facet of the block can exhibit an ornamental design orcharacteristic which differs in figuration and/or tint from that on anyother facet of the block.

Although I have particularly described one physical embodiment of myinvention and explained the principle and operation thereof,nevertheless I desire to have it understood that the form selected ismerely illustrative, and does not exhaust the possible physicalembodiments of the idea of means underlying my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A cubical toy building block of the class described, having aplurality of facets each provided with a non-reentrant polygonalfiguration having block edge boundaries which run in each instanceeither to or halfway to an adjacent corner. whereby all design areasformed by two adjacent facets when brought into engagement with eachother will have meeting edges whose length is equal to at least one halfof the block edge regardless of the particular facets thereof arrangedin juxtaposition.

2. A cubical toy building block of the class described, consisting of apair of complementary components each of a single color or tintcontrasting with that of the other, and having irregular interfittingmargins, the configurations of said elements being such that when thetwo components are assembled each facet of the completed block exhibitsa different effect from that of any other facet of the block.

3. A cubical block consisting of a pair of cornplernental components asset forth in claim 2, and further characterized by having saidcornplementary components constituted each by a structure of agenerallystereometric character, and each adapted to form a portion, atleast, of at least five faces of the cubical block.

4. A cubical block consisting of a pair of coinplemental components asset forth in claim 2, and further characterized by having saidcomplementary components constituted each by a structure of a generallystereometric character, and each adapted to form a portion, at least, ofat least five faces of the cubical block said face portions being all ofpolygonal forms having exclusively unbroken straight line boundaries.

5. A cubical block consisting of a pair of complemental components asset forth in claim 2, and further characterized by having saidcomplementary components constituted each by a structure of a generallystereometric character,

and each adapted to formla portion, at least,

of at least five faces of the cubical block said that one face iscompletely of one color, a second face is of the other color, a thirdface has two differently colored zones, the zones being divided by aline parallel to the edges of the face and in the middle of the face, afourth face has a central diagonal stripe of one color and the opposingcorner areas thereof of the other color, a fifth face has a triangularcorner area of one color and the remainder of the face of the othercolor and the sixth face has a triangular corner of the other color andthe remainder of the face being Wholly of the first color.

WILLIAM L. MAXSON.

